I have owned my Mini-14 Series 186 since I bought it NIB in 1995 for a whopping $249 from Guns in Cypress, CA. Over the years it has sat in the back of my safe and has been shot rarely if any; pretty much was neglected due to the collection of AR's, FAL's, AK's, HK's, etc. With the crazy political climate, I decided to start using it and noticed that even though the finish was worn, wood beat up, and a little filthy due o non-cleaning, it has held up very well with no pitting and the bore was nice and shiny. So I decided to re-finish it and add a few extras.

(1) the Mini-14 is notorious for accuracy, due to the 18" barrel and barrel whip. So I decided to have the barrel cut down to 14.5" and pinned a YHM muzzle brake to make it 16" ( I am stuck in Kalifornia for the next 4 1/2 years till retirement and caring for elderly parents at the same time; SBR's and suppressors are in storage in AZ).
(2) Re-built all my USA 30 round magazines by stripping the crappy finish, I finished them using dry film lubricant as I did my old AR magazines, and added Ruger factory followers and Wolff extra duty Mini-14 springs; function as well as my factory Mini-14 20 round magazines.
(3) added a Hogue OD green stock to replace the beat up factory wood stock.
(4) had the rifle Cerekoted using Magpul FDE finish; came out beautiful.

All in all, I am pleased the way it came out, how it shoots, and functions. But their ate some things missing such as a light and good quality sling. How do I add a light to it? I was going to buy a Ultramax rail cover, but my gun smith was unable to remove the top of gas block because Ruger staked the gas block screws. Can I drill the stick to add a piece of rail or is there a much easier way to add a light.

Another dilemma is what sling? I would light a tactical two point sling because that is what I am used to on my other rifles. Does Blue Force Gear make a sling for the Mini-14 and a butt stock ammo pouch like fir the fixed stock AR?

I like the FDE, it looks cool. For your sling solution, I don't think you are going to find anything Mini-14 specific, but these Nylon buttstock straps would probably be a good start.

It might not "fall" or "rest" as comfortably across your chest with your current front sling swivel, but you could even do a 550 cord job in front to the sling, then use this strap below for the stock for the rear sling contact point. They are pretty adjustable.

If your gunsmith could not remove the factory-staked gas block screws, you need to go to a different gunsmith.

Removing the gas block screws allows installation of the Scout-type rail, which not only allows forward-mounted optics of many types, and also gives access to the gas orifice.. Ruger used an unnecessarily huge gas orifice, and replacing it with a smaller ID gas orifice reduces the violence of the action, and to a small, but noticeable extent, barrel whip. Smaller orifice also increases bullet velocity, since less gas is being used to operate the action.

You will definitely need to replace the formerly staked screws, as they are torqued on re-assembly. Make sure the bottom of the gas block is centered on the hopefully smaller orifice, and when tightening down, use a feeler gauge to ensure both sides of the gas block are the same distance apart. By that I mean that the gap between top and bottom of gas block is the same for both sides, front and back.